Improvement in making sheet-metal pipes



` UNITED e STATES'y PATENT OFFICE.

C. T. BOARDMAN, OF BERGEN POINT, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAKING SHEET-METAL PIPES.

Speeilication forming part of Letters Patent No. '28, |47, dated May 8, 1860.

T0 all whoml it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. T. BOARDMAN, of Bergen Point, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Making Sheet-Metal Pipes 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings', making a part of this specification, in which-- H Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section of same, :n az, Fig. l, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a detached transverse section of the rollers and brake, showing the operation of locking.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures. The object of this invention is to obtain a machine by which sheet-metal pipes of considerable length may be expeditiously bent in cylindrical form and locked, the `invention being designed for bending pipes for waterleaders, stove-pipes, and other purposes.

The invention consists in the employment or use of adjustable rollers, a removable form er, a brake or locking bar, and a pipe-support, substantially as hereinafter described, whereby the desired end is attained.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a suitable frame, in which three rollers, B C C, are placed. These rollers are parallel with each other7 the two lower ones, C G, being in ahorizontal plane, and the upper one, B, directly over the center of the space between the two lower ones, C C, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. These rollers have their journals all tted in adjustable bearings a, the bearings being adj usted when necessary by set-screws b, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, the lower rollers, C, being adjusted toward and from each other in a horizontal plane, and the upper roller, B, adjusted up and down in a vertical plane.

On the axis or journals of the upper roller, B, two arms, D D, are fitted loosely, one near each end. These arms project out from the frame A a suitable distance, and are connected at their outer ends by a cross-bar, c. The arms D, near the roller C, project downward,

as shown at d, and to these projections a bar,

E, is attached, said bar being of cylindrical or other proper form, and equal in length to the rollers B C C.

F is what I term a former, which is simply a cylinder provided with a longitudinal recess, e, in which a longitudinal metal strip, f, is itted to form a hook projection, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, the recess and metal strip extending the whole length of the former. The former F is adjusted between the rollers B C (l, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and may be shoved between and withdrawn longitudinally from between them at one or both sides of the frame A'.

G is a pipe-support, which, when in use, is fitted between the rollers C C, as shown in Fig. 3. The sides of the support G areconcave, corresponding inversely to the curvature of the rollers C, and the upper surface of the support is made concave, corresponding to the curvature of the pipes to be formed.

The operation is as follows: In order to bend or curve the pipes, the sheet metal is cut into pieces of proper Width, as shown at g in Fig. 2, and the ends of the sheets are bent over in hook form, the hook h at one end being in a reverse position to the hook fi at the other end, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The hook 71., at one end of the sheet g, is fitted over the end of the metal strip f, and the former F at one end is provided with a square, H, on which a crank, I, is fitted or placed. The operator, after the hook h of the sheet is fitted on the edge of strip f, turns, by means of the crank I, the former F, and the metal sheet is wound around the former, the rollers B C C serving as bearings or pressure-rollers, and causing the metal sheet to be wound snugly around the former, the sheets g being of such width as to extend one around the former. When the former F has made one revolution, the operator withdraws it from between the rollers B C C, leaving the bent sheet g between the rollers, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, the hooked ends h v3 being nearly in contact. The operator then places the support G between the rollers C C and underneath the bent sheet g, as shown in Fig. 3, and then presses down the arm D D, and thereby causes the bar E to bear below the lower hook of the bent sheet g, and the two hooks h t' will interlock, as will be clearly erationrepeated.

From the above description it will be seen kthat pipes of considerable length may be formed with great facility.

The locked end of the pipes7 after leaving r the within-described machine, may be closed and cemented in the usual or in any proper way, and formers of different diameters may be used'7 according to the sized pipe required, the rollers B C C being adjusted to suit the size of the former by means of the set-screws 7L.

I am aware that rollers have been used for 'forming pipes, and I do not claim7 broadly,

such device; but

Ido claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The employment or use of the rollers B C C, when used in connection with a removable former and while the sheet metal is bent, substantially as and for the purpose speciied. 2. In connection with the rollers B C C, the brake or locking bar E, and the pipe-support G, arranged to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

' C. T. BOARDMAN. Witnesses: Y

B. GIRoUX, M. M. LIvINGsroN. 

